Urgent need for volunteers to help assemble food boxes and to distribute food
Volunteers work at The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s drive-thru food distribution and the food bank’s assembly line for their emergency food bags at the food bank on Jan. 18.
After record breaking fiscal year, the community food bank is need of more volunteers to help with the distribution and prep of food for their drive-thru distribution tent.
The food bank, from June 2020-June 2021, distributed 86 million pounds of food to about 316,000 people through out the five counties the food bank covers, according to Norma Cable, public relations and marketing specialist.
“It’s the biggest number we have ever done,” said Cable.
However, due to the Arizona National Guard leaving at the end of November of 2021 and the pandemic, the food bank is in need of volunteers.
“Our need for volunteers is urgent,” said Cable.
Prior to the pandemic, the food bank had multiple operations where people could volunteer. Now the food bank, still limiting volunteer opportunities due to covid, is in need of volunteers for their drive-thru distribution and their assembly line for packaging food bags and boxes.
A few volunteers also help with sorting food from donations. The food bank serves about 500 vehicles per day, according to Cable.
If interested in volunteering, there is a link on the food banks website or send an email to volunteer@communityfoodbank.org. Volunteers must be 16 years or older, are required to wear a mask if inside and the food bank is recommending volunteers be vaccinated, said Cable.